Some older threads on Flyertalk.com had mixed reviews about the Starwoods in Munich: the reports had reviews from top-notch to top-dump. Therefore I became a loyal guest of the Munich Renaissance. The recent targetted Starwood promotion made me to try the Starwood properties in Munich though I felt very bad about not going to the "Renny". Otherwise I was curious to try the ArabellaSheratons and the Four Points; the promotion made me - oh well - once again points-greedy. So here is my picture report (as usually, I booked all stays on spg.com, so all hotels had the same profile containing my Platinum status. I also didn't ask for an upgrade/Platinum welcome gift - especially on the first stay; so I can easily discover what a hotel delivers automatically):


Arabellasheraton Grand Hotel, Munich

+ upgrade from superior room to Towers level room on non-smoking floor
+ very nice bathroom
+ separate shower and tube
+ lounge with nice view towards Munich
+ excellent restaurant and bar. The Ducktails bar is one of the best bars in Germany
+ coffee/tea maker
+ huge safe with power outlet
+ TV loudspeaker in the bathroom
- no Platinum welcome gift
- no newspaper in the morning
- no clock in the room

That's what I booked
1 single bed
superior room desk and data port coffee/tea maker voicemail, tastefully furnished rooms with the most modern business equipment and a french bed

That's what I got
1 king
towers level rm non-smoking, concierge level, copier fax printer, desk and data port, voicemail, exclusive towers room with complimentary breakfast on the top floors and spledid view over munich

The supposed best Starwood in Munich (no luxury collection compared to the ArabellaSheraton Grand in Frankfurt; the hotel in Munich is listed as a 4-star hotel): the ambience in the lobby, the restaurants, the bar and the quality of the furnitures in the room leave no doubt. The free lounge is an additional plus for guests with status.
Otherwise the hotel lacks some class that other 4-star properties offer, e.g. turn-down service, size of rooms (don't get me wrong. I can easily live without that. But if I think about a 4-star hotel, I would expect a clear-cut difference to "cheaper" hotels).


ArabellaSheraton Airport Hotel Munich

+ upgrade from superior room to executive room
+ Platinum welcome gift
+ coffee/tea maker
+ shuttle to the airport from 5:30 - 23:00 (6EUR per person/oneway)
+ (small) free breakfast from 4:30 - 6:00
- no newspaper in the morning
- dark light in the room and in the bathroom
- soundproofed windows could be improved
- soft bed

That's what I booked
2 single beds
superior room non-smoking room desk minibar pay per view movies, quiet,comfortable,soundproofed non-smoking room, tastefully decorated in bavarian country style, facing garden or street

That's what I got
beds: 2 single beds
room features: executive rm, bathrobe, garden view, desk, minibar, spacious, quiet, comfortable soundproofed room, elegantly appointed in bavarian country style, view of countryside

Rather good Platinum recognition (except newspaper) and good location. A soft bed and dark light are big disadvantages for me. So I have rather mixed feelings about the MUC airport hotel.


ArabellaSheraton Westpark Hotel

+ upgrade from executive club room to junior suite (non-smoking suite; hotels have often only smoking suites. The upgrade was done two days in advance as I could see it on spg.com)
+ Platinum welcome gift (drink voucher)
+ newspaper in the morning
+ separate shower and tube
+ coffee/tea maker
+ very comfortable, firm bed
+ TV loudspeaker in the bathroom
+ subway stop next to the hotel (Heimeranplatz)
+ TV loudspeaker in the bathroom
+ good restaurant with very fast service
- no light on the working desk
- no clock in the room

That's what I booked
1 single bed
executive club rm fax machine upper floor in rm safe bathrobe, spacious and comfortable room decorated in modern style, located on 9th floor. bathrobe, modem access and fax machine

That's what I got
1 queen+1 single sofa bed
junior suite/combination rm, sitting area, fax machine, bathrobe, in rm safe

I was totally satisfied with my stay. Excellent Platinum recognition and only some (minor) disadvantages. Surely, the hotel is no luxury property and there's no comparision of the above mentioned junior suite to a (much better) suite in an upscale property. Of course, there's also a big differnce in price. IMO, the Westpark delivers an excellent cost/performance ratio.


After ~50 stays in German ArabellaSheratons, I was able to "celebrate" my first upgrade to a suite in the Westpark. Automatic Platinum recognition improved a lot during the period of these 50 stays (thanks to the Starwood Lurker and other fellow-Flyertalker reporting "incidents" to Starwood; several properties became really good and consistent in the meantime), but there's still room for further improvements (thanks again to the Starwood Lurker for caring about my last emails).

There are 3 more properties (one ArabellaSheraton and two 4.) in Munich where I'm going to stay soon. I will update the report then ..